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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
This floor show’s a museum piece!
A FLOORING company has been bringing things up to date for two top northern museums. Brighouse Flooring Co Ltd has installed and completed new flooring for the ground floor of the Yorkshire Museum in York. Now it has a team of workers completing a similar project at the Vindolanda Museum on a remote stretch of Hadrian’s Wall. Director David Hartop said: “We have sent a team up to Hadrian’s Wall for two weeks. “The museum is aimed at walkers, so it is pretty remote. It closed in October and re-opens at the beginning of March. “During the closure period, the museum is being refurbished in phases between now and February.” The Yorkshire Museum project involved laying flooring featuring a map of Europe. “With old buildings, floors can be very uneven and we have to spend a lot of time getting the new flooring to look right,” said Mr Hartop. “We carried out the York project in July and it had to be ready for Yorkshire Day. “Apart from the decorators and painters, we are almost the last people to come onto a project, which creates certain pressures. “A completion date is rarely put back, so whatever delays occur earlier in the contract, we only have a set number of days to complete our work.” The two high-profile contracts have provided a high point for the Brighouse-based company, which employs eight people and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The company was formed in 1985 and moved to Thornhill Beck Lane from Hipperholme about 10 years ago. “We outgrew the premises,” said Mr Hartop. “We needed a bigger warehouse, better access and
car parking. We put a new roof on the building and tarmaced outside. “The premises are in the perfect position for access to the motorway.” Brighouse Flooring focuses on supplying and installing contract carpet tiles and carpets for commercial and business premises as well as a host of public sector sites. Contracts have included ones for the Ministry of Defence at RAF Finningley, Job Centres and tax offices, schools, court buildings, police stations and sports venues, including the Galpharm Stadium. Mr Hartop said government spending cuts would make the next two years “challenging” – but said: “There is work out there, but it is low-margin. “The cuts are likely to affect new buildings, but we expect to remain busy doing essential maintenance and refurbishment. “Fortunately, we are strong because we have money in the company.”
Retailers and “consumer-facing” businesses were expected to be the worst-hit along with others in their supply chain, such as manufacturers and distribution networks. Aldermore said the first quarter of 2011 would be a make-or-break period for small companies – with a likely increase in business failures in Yorkshire. Aldermore said SMEs that planned
Contract in store AN independent store in Huddersfield has signed a three-year contract to handle staffing issues. Fashion store Peter’s has linked up with Cleckheaton-based human resources and employment law specialist The Howarth Partnership Ltd for human resources support. The King Street shop, which is led by husband and wife team David and Caroline Whittle, offers ladies fashion, shoes and accessories. It employs 50 staff.
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■ HISTORY MAN: David Hartop (above, left) of Brighouse Flooring Co Ltd, which has landed contracts at two leading museums in the north – the Vindolanda museum at Hadrian’s Wall and the Yorkshire Museum (above) in York, which included laying a map of Europe in the vinyl flooring
VAT hike may be biggest cash flow worry THE New Year hike in VAT could provide the biggest cash flow worry for Kirklees firms, it is claimed. Experts at Aldermore Invoice Finance, warned that the VAT hike – rather than a lack of sales – would prolong and intensify traditional seasonal cashflow woes, compounding the impact of large stock uptakes, extra staffing costs, holidays and unpredictable weather.
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ahead and put appropriate funding facilities in place will be well-equipped to avoid the post-Christmas slump. With total insolvencies falling by 20% in England and Wales, companies had benefited from greater awareness of cashflow issues as well as a recovering economy. Dave Jones, senior regional managing director at Aldermore Invoice Finance, said: “Businesses in York-
shire need to speak with their lenders early to prepare them for any potential risk and discuss possible solutions for flexible finance. “It’s vital that businesses recognise the danger signs of trouble, including lengthening payment terms with customers, growing attention from their banks and a backlog of stock and put in place any appropriate flexible finance products.”
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Tougher timetables A COMPANY in Huddersfield is helping beat the vandals at railway stations and bus stops.. Horizon Signs, based at Milnsbridge, has supplied client Acis with new, stronger, casings for its monitors displaying boards with real-time information about train and bus times.
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